Chapter 30

CHAPTER THIRTY

T he tunnel was dry as Merlin navigated through the passages, occasionally touching the rock to deactivate whatever trap he had set. Rosa clutched the back of his jacket as a reassurance.

With each step, Rosa could hear the steady beat of a heart, as if the whole cave system was alive and breathing. There was a light up ahead, and the breath froze in her throat. It was just like her dream.

As they entered the forest of glowing trees, they flared brighter as if responding to the proximity of their creator. In the center of the room was the sarcophagus. Merlin hesitated, stopping in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Rosa asked.

"Nothing… I haven't been here for many years, that's all."

"Why come now?"

"You saw him wake," Merlin whispered. "I could use my friend right now. There was no fighter or tactician like him. I always said that if I ever had to go to Hell for something, Arthur is the only man I would trust to go with me."

"Then why stop now?"

"Are you so impatient with everything in your life?"

"Are you such a chicken shit when it's something that matters to you?"

"Infuriating child!" he snapped, but there was laughter in his voice.

"Grumpy old bastard," she retorted. When he still didn't move, she gave a frustrated sigh and walked over to the sleeping king.

Arthur looked the same, as if he was only taking a light nap, his deep red hair shining in the artificial light, and his fine clothes slowly getting eaten away by age. He was powerfully built, and he would be over six foot tall when he was standing.

"If he wakes, won't the poison start to kill him again?" she asked tentatively.

"The spell I put on him was only to wake him when the damage to him had completely healed," Merlin said from the other side of the chamber.

Rosa reached into the sarcophagus and received an electric shock when she touched the hilt of his sword. She looked expectantly at the long hand holding the hilt. Not even a twitch. She ran her fingers over his hand, feeling the pulsing life in them, and her magic reached out to touch it.

For a moment, there was nothing, and then there was a spark, like lightning being shot through her veins and the fingers tightened over hers.

"Merlin!" Rosa looked up at his shocked face. "Merlin, I told you!"

He was beside her in a moment, looking down at his friend, face drawn tight with emotion. He placed a hand on Arthur's forehead and whispered in the Unseelie tongue.

Arthur shuddered all over before his slate blue eyes opened, fixed on Merlin's face, and smiled. It was as if it somehow heightened every great thing about him, and Rosa blushed despite herself. Merlin touched Arthur's throat gently, and the king coughed roughly, sitting up.

"Myrddin, you mad wizard, what in God's name did you do to me?" he asked in a thick, Welsh brogue.

"Saved your hide as usual," Merlin said and hugged him. "I'm so happy to see you, Bear."

"You act like you haven't seen me in a hundred years."

"More like a thousand," Rosa murmured under her breath.

Arthur looked at her properly and flushed. "The Lady of the Lake."

"Ah…no. A descendant," she said and tried not to laugh giddily.

"There is much to tell you, old friend. First, we need to get out of here and back to Gwaed Lyn," Merlin interrupted.

They steadied Arthur while Merlin helped him climb out of his bed. He struggled to stand but managed it if he leaned on Merlin.

"What is wrong? You look like someone's walked over your grave," Arthur said as they shuffled through the tunnels.

"I need your help."

"To do what this time?"

Merlin's smile was sharp and vicious in the dim light. "Go into Hell."

They made it back to Gwaed Lyn as the sun rose over the frozen lake. They had barely crossed into the parklands when guards intercepted them, and Merlin ordered them away. Eli met them at the front door, every inch the angry disapproving father.

"You could've…" he began, but when he realized who they were helping, his face turned from anger to disbelief. "Arthur?"

"Bleddyn the wolf," Arthur greeted as Eli hugged him. "I see you haven't aged a day."

"How is this even possible?"

"Rosa and I went adventuring," Merlin replied and added, "I did leave a note."

"'Don't worry. Rosa and I haven't run away' is hardly a sufficient note." He stared at Arthur. "I wish you had told me."

"I didn't know if it was going to work, did I? Doesn't matter. I will get Arthur upstairs and settled." Merlin led him away, speaking softly to his old friend.

"That's Arthur fucking Pendragon." Rosa's laughter was a squeak of disbelief. "I helped wake Arthur Pendragon."

"You did," Eli said with a shake of his head. "Merlin is plotting something."

"He's your son. He can't help himself."

"Go and rest, Rosa. We have until the time between times tonight, and we will leave." Eli kissed her forehead, and she followed Merlin upstairs.

Zalan, Vincenzo, and Saul escorted them to the faerie ring that afternoon. All three looked conflicted and debated on whether or not staying behind was a good idea. Eli had instructed them to protect the estate and help the Unseelie refugees find their feet.

"Maybe you should call Lily back," Saul said to Eli. "She was always a lot better at playing the queen than me."

Eli hugged him goodbye. "You are my son. You do a far better job ruling than I do most days. You will be patient and compassionate with the Unseelie, which is what they need right now. They need to know that not all leaders are like the queen. Zalan and Vincenzo will be here to help you."

Saul nodded and then quickly hugged Rosa before Eli saw how much his words meant. "Go get the Tin Man back, Rosey. If anyone can find him, I know you can."

"Thanks, little brother. Watch your back. Don't seduce all of the Unseelie while we are gone."

"Party pooper."

Eirianwen accepted solemn goodbyes and hand kisses from Zalan and Vincenzo, but otherwise, kept her distance from the group. She was strange and beautiful, and a warrior down to her booted toes. Rosa couldn't help but be in awe of her. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but Eirianwen's uneasy demeanor made her pause.

That and the way she would quietly touch the hilts of the daggers that were strapped to her thighs every couple of minutes. She was afraid to go back to the Aos Si, like they all were.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, Merlin?" Arthur asked.

"This is a fucking stupid idea. That's why I'm bringing you," Merlin replied.

"I've been asleep for fifteen hundred years, and you still have stupid ideas? It's hard to believe you haven't learned by now."

Rosa didn't hear his reply as the stones began to glow. She drew Gaeaf Storom , letting its strange power wash over her.

Don't worry, Balthasar, I'm coming for you. No matter how long it takes, you will be by my side once more, Rosa promised as they stepped into the glowing light and disappeared.

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